First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers
This study analyses the impact of small hydropower plants (HPP) on fish in three Latvian transboundary river basin districts. The MesoHABSIM habitat simulation model was applied to seven Latvian lowland rivers regulated by HPP, four of which belong to the salmonid river type and three to the cyprini...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Hydrology Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hr.iwaponline.com/content/53/8/1063 |
| _version_ | 1828176115584204800 |
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| author | Jolanta Jekabsone Kaspars Abersons Tatjana Kolcova Marcis Tirums |
| author_facet | Jolanta Jekabsone Kaspars Abersons Tatjana Kolcova Marcis Tirums |
| author_sort | Jolanta Jekabsone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyses the impact of small hydropower plants (HPP) on fish in three Latvian transboundary river basin districts. The MesoHABSIM habitat simulation model was applied to seven Latvian lowland rivers regulated by HPP, four of which belong to the salmonid river type and three to the cyprinid type. Daily stream flow time series for 1961–2018 were used for flow regime calculations in reference (unimpacted) and altered (impacted by HPP operation) flow conditions. Conditional habitat suitability model/criteria for fish were used to assess a potentially available habitat at different flow conditions. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) for salmonid rivers and chub (Squalius cephalus) for cyprinid rivers were selected as case examples to show habitat suitability for different stream types. The authors found significant differences in habitat availability for salmonid and cyprinid rivers, indicating that ecological flows must be calculated separately for fast- and slow-flowing rivers. This study is the first attempt in Latvia to set ecological flow values not only using hydrological calculations but also biological data as an indicator of ecological changes.
HIGHLIGHTS
A new approach for ecological flow calculations based on fish data and suggestions for a flow regime instead of one single flow value.;
A better understanding of habitat differences between cyprinid and salmonid rivers.;
Although a relatively small country, hydromorphological differences based on hydrological regions were found in Latvia.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:38:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26c244b438b5410e8ff527db6209e4f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1998-9563 2224-7955 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:38:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-26c244b438b5410e8ff527db6209e4f72022-12-22T03:47:43ZengIWA PublishingHydrology Research1998-95632224-79552022-08-015381063107410.2166/nh.2022.019019First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian riversJolanta Jekabsone0Kaspars Abersons1Tatjana Kolcova2Marcis Tirums3 Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Maskavas Str. 165, Riga, Latvia Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment – “BIOR” Fish Resources Research Department, Lejupes Str. 3, Riga, Latvia Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Maskavas Str. 165, Riga, Latvia Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Maskavas Str. 165, Riga, Latvia This study analyses the impact of small hydropower plants (HPP) on fish in three Latvian transboundary river basin districts. The MesoHABSIM habitat simulation model was applied to seven Latvian lowland rivers regulated by HPP, four of which belong to the salmonid river type and three to the cyprinid type. Daily stream flow time series for 1961–2018 were used for flow regime calculations in reference (unimpacted) and altered (impacted by HPP operation) flow conditions. Conditional habitat suitability model/criteria for fish were used to assess a potentially available habitat at different flow conditions. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) for salmonid rivers and chub (Squalius cephalus) for cyprinid rivers were selected as case examples to show habitat suitability for different stream types. The authors found significant differences in habitat availability for salmonid and cyprinid rivers, indicating that ecological flows must be calculated separately for fast- and slow-flowing rivers. This study is the first attempt in Latvia to set ecological flow values not only using hydrological calculations but also biological data as an indicator of ecological changes. HIGHLIGHTS A new approach for ecological flow calculations based on fish data and suggestions for a flow regime instead of one single flow value.; A better understanding of habitat differences between cyprinid and salmonid rivers.; Although a relatively small country, hydromorphological differences based on hydrological regions were found in Latvia.;http://hr.iwaponline.com/content/53/8/1063ecological flowhydromorphologyhydropower plantsmesohabsim |
| spellingShingle | Jolanta Jekabsone Kaspars Abersons Tatjana Kolcova Marcis Tirums First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers Hydrology Research ecological flow hydromorphology hydropower plants mesohabsim |
| title | First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers |
| title_full | First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers |
| title_fullStr | First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers |
| title_short | First steps in the ecological flow determining for Latvian rivers |
| title_sort | first steps in the ecological flow determining for latvian rivers |
| topic | ecological flow hydromorphology hydropower plants mesohabsim |
| url | http://hr.iwaponline.com/content/53/8/1063 |
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